The Happiest Run on Earth

This weekend was filled with pixie dust, unicorns, and rainbows. Okay, not really, but it was a great weekend and here is why...

1. Three day weekend
2. My mom was in town
3. I ran my 24th half marathon
4. I spent the entire day at Disneyland. And I mean the entire day. From 4:45am to 8:00pm.

My mom flew into town on Friday night. It was a nice treat to have a guest after the first week of school. It gave me something to look forward to.

On Saturday, we woke up at a leisurely hour, headed to breakfast at a cute little restaurant called the Filling Station then walked through the Orange street fair. Next we drove down to Disneyland to pick up our race packets. Of course we walked around the expo to find samples and possible races we want to do in the future (Big Sur is next on our list). In fact, at the expo of the first half marathon I ever ran in 2005, there was a booth advertising for the Disney races. My mom and I looked at each other and said "One day, we are going to run that race." Disneyland has a special place in our hearts and I knew my running career would not be complete without running this race. Anyways, the planets aligned and it just made perfect sense to finally run this race.

We didn't want to fatigue our legs too much, so we left the expo, got our toes did, had an early dinner, and went to bed around 10pm.

The race started at 5:45am on Sunday morning. The earliest race I have EVER run. We woke up at 4am after a wonderful night's sleep (usually I do not sleep before races), ate our breakfast, completed our pre-race rituals and headed out the door at 4:45am. It was still dark out, but at least the temperature was cool.

My mom and I waiting at 5:30am for the race to start

The race was so much fun. We ran through California Adventure (my first time there), then through Disneyland (it was definitely the fastest I had ever made it through Disneyland), then onto the streets of Anaheim, to Angel's Stadium, through Angel's Stadium where there were spectators cheering us on in the seats.

Inside Angel Stadium on the field

Then back to Disneyland hotel where the race started.

Horrible picture, but Donald Duck and Mickey were waiting for us at the finish line

My mom and I taking our classic picture after the race (with our bling)

The Medal

The race was well supported. Lots of water stations and people cheering us on (including Disney character) along the entire race. Even though this was an expensive race (clocking in at $125), it was worth every penny.

After the race, my mom and I headed home, grabbed a bite to eat, showered and headed back to California Adventures. There were barely any lines, I think the longest we waited was 15 mins and it wasn't too hot outside. We went on California Screamin' (twice), Soaring over California, Tower of Terror, the Ferrous Wheel, the Little Mermaid, Grizzle River Run (which was awesome to do in 90 degree weather), and saw the Aladdin Musical.

On California Screamin'

The picture of us on California Screamin

Inside the Tower of Terror

On the Tower of Terror (I think we were holding hands)

Random street parade while we were eating lunch

 "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?"

My mom and I in "Hollywood"

The food in California Adventure was really good. When we were done with the rides, we sat down and ate some appetizers and had California wine IN Disneyland. Of course we needed to check out the Ghirardelli ice cream shop for dessert.

The next day we woke up at the late hour of 7:45am (hey that is late when you wake up at 4am the previous day) a little sore but very happy. My next race is Sunday October 14th in San Francisco and it will be my 25th half marathon! I can't wait.

What is something that you have wanted to do for a long time that you finally did (or have set plans to do)?

Orthotics and Spiders!

I am back in Cali and have started my 2nd year of grad school. The week has not been horrible. In fact, today we were suppose to have class till 6:15 and we got out at 3:30. Hallelujah!!! Really all this means is I have more time to catch up on reading so I don't fall behind.

Here is a synopsis of my week thus far:

Monday started the week off with class at 9am till 4pm. Yeah! Nothing crazy to report.

Tuesday (yesterday), we learned how to take molds for orthotics. Here are some pictures of what they look like. Fascinating huh? The cool thing is we get free orthotics, so I can subtract about $250-$400 from my tuition in substitution for the custom orthotics.

It has been 90 degrees here, so Lauren and I decided that we should kill two birds with one stone by reading by the pool. I applied sun screen (I finally learned), got my towel, and reading materials and relaxed  read on a lawn chair. When I turned onto my stomach (prone) to tan my back I noticed gnarly egg sacs with spider legs hanging out by them. Then the spider moved across the lawn chair and I saw an orange hour glass on its abdomen. I instantly sprang up, screamed, and ran upstairs to google what I had just seen...It was a brown widow which are equally as venomous as black widows if not more.

Here is some info if you are curious. I don't want to post a picture because looking at it makes me want to scream.

http://cisr.ucr.edu/brown_widow_spider.html

This is what the egg sacs look like. They are very distinct. Anyways. I spent about an hour having to decompose after sitting on a chair with that thing. But I survived (luckily).

I am excited about this weekend! My mom is coming into town on Friday night. Then on Sunday we are running the Disneyland Half Marathon. We have been talking about doing this race since I started running half marathons in 2005, but logistically it never worked out. Well we finally get to run it. We are going to California Adventures right afterwards (because we get a slight discount to the park), which is another place I have never been. I can't wait!!

Okay, now that I have bored and scared you, off to finishing my reading.

Do you have any scary spider stories?

A Sprinkle of Fun

Well I am officially old. Monday was my 29th birthday. And how did I celebrate my birthday? In Disneyland!!!

My family and Chris flew down from Seattle to treat Shelly and I to a fantastic day at Disneyland. My mom, dad, Chris and Shelly all spent the night on Friday at my apartment. We drank wine and stayed up talking about who knows what. At 8am the next morning, Shelly and I woke everyone up to get the day started. We only had so many hours in the day and so many rides to ride that we wanted to make sure there was enough time.

Chris had never been to Disneyland before, so I prepared him a little. But once he got there, he was so excited.

We hit all the major rides:
Splash Mountain

Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion (which broke down on us while we were on it)

On Pirates

The birthday girls in front of the Mansion

Buzz Light Year and Space Mountain

Shelly really into Buzz Light Year

No caption needed

Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise

Waiting in line for Thunder Mtn.

Jungle Cruise. Totally kid appropriate

 Autotopia

Autotopia

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

And Star Tours, which we rode right after eating a large dinner and a lot of candy. The ride was still fun, but my tummy didn't think so.

Our "space glasses" for Star Tours

I did get to eat a pickle and a churro. And let me tell you, if you have never eaten a pickle at Disneyland, you are missing out.

 The day was absolutely amazing. We ALL had such a good time.

Monday June 4th (my actual birthday) was celebrated by taking a test. Yeah! Immediately followed by studying for another test that was on Wednesday. So not too much excitement there. But right after the test on Wednesday, a bunch of us went to an Angel's vs. Mariner's game at Angel's Stadium. Guess who won?
The Mariners!!

The DPT class of 2014 who attended the game

That's right, that is a margarita! Go Mariners!

Foot long hot dog...

And beer on a sunny summer day

The evening was wonderful. If only I didn't have class at 8am the next morning. Only one more week of classes (two assignments and a test) and then I am in Seattle for 2 weeks for my first clinical experience. I am really excited and nervous, but I can't wait to come home!